Date: January 27, 2017
Source: Kansas State University
The rusty patched bumblebee, Bombus affinis, recently became the
first U.S. bumblebee species to be placed on the endangered species list, but a
Kansas State University entomologist says bumblebee endangerment is nothing to
be bugged about.
Jeff Whitworth, associate
professor of entomology, said bumblebees are not headed for extinction.
However, their populations have decreased in some states, so inclusion in the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Federal Register may help keep them and other
bee species at healthy population levels.
"Being on the endangered
species list is not bad," Whitworth said. "It helps people have more
awareness and information about bees, and it leads to regulations and programs
that help keep bees alive."
Some people fear bees because
they occasionally sting, but Whitworth said bees will not bother people if
people do not bother them. He said bees are beneficial because they pollinate
flowers, citrus crops and vegetables, and they serve as food sources for other
insects, birds and fish.
"If bees go away, other
organisms go away, too," Whitworth said. "It's a domino effect."
Bee declines are attributed to a
variety of factors, including parasites, pesticides and urbanization, as well
as fungal, bacterial and viral diseases. They also are affected by the
introduction of non-native plant species and natural disasters, from floods to
drought.
Whitworth said bee populations
could be protected by areas of native plants and grasses, conservation-focused
farming and gardening methods, and the hobby of beekeeping, which is growing in
both rural and urban areas. These protective practices help turn one's backyard
-- even a little piece of it -- into a natural ecosystem.
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